County OKs $2.5 Million in Case of Mentally Ill Man Hit by Train
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved paying a near-record $2.5-million settlement for crippling injuries suffered by a mentally ill man who was improperly released from a county jail and later struck by a train.
Under the terms of the settlement, approved in executive session, William Penuela, 41, will receive $1.5 million. An additional $1 million will go toward legal fees and court costs.
The Times reported Tuesday that the county’s top lawyers ignored the advice of their own expert private counsel to settle the case two years ago for $800,000 less.
Although County Counsel De Witt Clinton has refused to return calls seeking comment, he told the supervisors during the executive session that “he made the wrong call,” Supervisor Mike Antonovich said. “On that case, the county counsel made the wrong call. He said that,” Antonovich said.
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